Humidifier apparatus



P.E.M DUFFEE,SR

HUMIDIFIER APPARATUS Sept. 17, 1968 Filed Oct. 26, 1966' 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5 will F/g. J! aa /0-=-- I E HEAT 1: EXCHANGER 7 a 39 BLOWER INVENTOR.

PAUL E. Mc DUI-FEE 55 BY PEA/OLE TON, NE UMA/V SE/BOLD 8 W/LL/AMS ATTORNEYS P 1968 P. E. M DUFFEE, SR 3,401,681

HUMIDIFIER APPARATUS Filed Oct. 26. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I v E TOR. PAUL E. MC DUFFEES':

BY PE/VDLETON, NEUMA/V ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,491,681 HUMIDIFIER APPARATUS Paul E. McDuifee, Sr., 216 N. Elmwood Drive, Aurora, Ill. 60506 Filed Oct. 26, 1966, Ser. No. 589,545 5 Claims. (Cl. 126-113) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A humidifier adapted for disposition within a warm air furnace; the humidifier having two housing sections with the openings therein being rotatable with respect to each other and being constructed so that ready access is provided to a moistened humidifying element disposed within the humidifier housing.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for conditioning air such as used in conjunction with a warm air furnace to produce and maintain desirable moisture conditions in rooms or other enclosures heated by said furance.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved air-conditioning device adapted for use with a heating means to produce and maintain a desired moisture content in the heated air.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved air-conditioning device characterized by its simple comp act construction which permits it to be disposed within a warm air furnace to provide required humidification.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an efficient air-conditioning device which is adapted to be disposed within a warm air furnace and which is so constructed that ready access may be had to the moistened humidifying element thereof for purposes of inspection, cleaning or replacement.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. I is a perspective view of the assembled humidifier apparatus of the invention.

FIG. II is a plan View of the humidifier apparatus of the invention.

FIG. III is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the humidifier apparatus of the invention disposed within the cold air plenum of a furnace.

FIG. IV is a cross-sectional view of the humidifier apparatus taken on line IVIV of FIG. I.

FIG. V is a view of one of the removable drip spouts employed in the apparatus.

FIG. V1 is a partial broken away view of the evaporating filter pad of the humidifier apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral designates a humidifier apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention. The humidifier unit 10 is fabricated of metal such as stainless steel or other suitable material and comprises a generally square casing 11 in which there is disposed an evaporating filter pad element 12. The rear of the casing 11 is open over the area 13 for the passage of air through the moist evaporating filter pad 12, An inwardly projecting peripheral flange 14 surround the open area 13 and is provided with a plurality of apertures (not shown) whereby the casing 11 can be attached to the furnace system by means of sheet metal screws or the like. Completing the housing of the humidifier unit 10 is a triangularly shaped hood 15 which is provided with an air duct 15 through which air to be humidified may pass. The dimensions of hood 15 are such as to permit the easing 11 to telescope therewithin as shown and to be rigidly 3,401,681 Patented Sept. 17, 1968 secured thereto by means of screws 17 or the like. It will be appreciated that the hood 15 can be rotated so that the duct 16 can project downwardly, upwardly or to either side of the unit. Sheet metal conduits can be readily joined to duct 16 if the apparatus is mounted in a position which requires the use of sheet metal conduits. Hood 15 includes a removable door 18, the upper end 19 of which is offset and adapted for slidable engagement within a U-shaped flange 20 on the hood 15. The door 18 can be locked in position by means of a rotatable handle 21, the inwardly projecting end 22 of which nestles behind upstanding lip 23 on the lower portion of the hood 15 when the door 18 is locked in position.

The evaporating filter pad 12 is composed of a porous material and is held in position within casing 11 by means of resilient spring 25 cooperating with a seating flange 26. In a preferred embodment the filter pad 12 is composed of a layer 28 of a polyurethane foam backed by a layer of asbestos material 29.

Disposed immediately above the evaporating filter pad 12 is a water distribution pan 30 which for convenience of fabrication can be made an integral part of casing 11. The length of the water distribution pan 30 is substantially coextensive with the length of the filter pad. As seen in FIG. II, a plurality of apertures are provided along the bottom of the water distribution pan, with removable drip spouts 31 being received therein. Preferably the drip spouts are made of a resilient material such as material sold under the trademark Teflon. The drip spouts 31 are constructed with a V-shaped notch 33 on the side thereof which permits the water to drip down onto the evaporating filter pad 12 as the water level builds up in the water distribution pan 30. A cover plate 34 can be frictionally inserted over the water distribution pan if desired. The 7 conduit 35 is regulated by conventional flow regulating means. Since the water flow regulating means form part of the present invention it will not be shown or described in detail. For example, the principal water flow regulating means can be a solenoid valve electrically responsive to a humidistat of known type whereby water flow is controlled in response to the atmospheric moisture content of the room or enclosure where the humidistat is located.

In operation according to one preferred embodiment of the invention the humidifier unit can be mounted within the cold air compartment of the furnace. This is illustrated in FIG. III of the drawings. Thus, the casing 11 can be attached to the wall 38 of the furnace which separates the warm air and cold air compartments thereof, a suitable opening being, of course, provided therein. As shown in FIG. III, opening 39 in the wall separating the furnace compartments is in the form of a perforated plate. A perforated plate of this type is preferred when operating under conditions of high pressure so as to avoid possible blow-off of water. A separate perforated plate can be employed within the humidifier unit itself if the unit is attached to a furnace wall or duct work having an uninterrupted opening therein. When mounted within the furnace as shown, the fan or blower of the furnace forces warm air through th opening 13 and causes it to pass through the moistened evaporating filter pad 12, then through duct 16, then through furnace blower and back into the air stream. Water is continuously supplied to the water distribution pan 30 from water supply line 35 in response to a signal from a humidistat or other suitable control means. As the water level builds up in water distribution pan 30 it flows through the notches in the drip spouts 31 and thence on to the evaporating filter pad to maintain it in a moistened condition. Excess water which is not retained by the evaporating filter pad drains therefrom and can be disposed of through a suitable drain outlet 36 in the bottom of the casing 11. When it is desired to inspect, clean or change the evaporating filter pad 12, ready access can be had thereto by simply removing door 18, depressing spring 25 and lifting the filter pad out of the humidifier unit.

While the humidifier apparatus of the invention is admirably adapted for mounting within the cold air compartment of a warm air furnace, it can be mounted elsewhere on the furnace duct work system. The rotatable feature of hood with respect to casing 11 permits great flexibility in mounting. As previously indicated, the air duct 16 can be disposed so that it projects upwardly, downwardly or to either side of the unit. Likewise, depending upon where the humidifier unit is mounted, the direction of air flow through the unit can be reversed with the air to be humidified entering the unit through duct 16 and passing through the moistening element or the air to be humidified can enter the unit through the open area 13, pass through the moistening element and exit via duct 16.

Those modifications and equivalents which fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims are to be considered part of the invention,

I claim:

1. A humidifier apparatus adapted for use in a furnace system which includes means to circulate heated air, said humidifier apparatus comprising a housing formed of two detachable sections, an evaporating filter pad disposed within one of said sections substantially completely closing an opening therein, spring means for maintaining said filter pad in position within said housing section, Water distribution means maintained in position above said evaporating filter pad for delivery of water thereto, a second housing section having an opening therein in one side thereof and being adapted for rotation with respect to said first part of said housing whereby the duct opening in said second housing section can be variously disposed at 90 angles relative to the opening in said first section of said housing, a removable door section within said lastmentioned housing section which provides access to said evaporating filter pad, means for joining said first and second housing sections to form a substantially unitary structure and means to supply water to said water distribution means.

2. A humidifier apparatus adapted for use in a furnace system which includes means to circulate heated air, said humidifier apparatus comprising a housing formed of two detachable sections, an evaporating filter pad disposed within one of said sections substantially completely closing an opening therein, spring means for maintaining said filter pad in position within said housing section, water distribution means maintained in position above said evaporating filter pad for delivery of water thereto, said water distribution means comprising an elongated tray having apertures in the bottom wall thereof, drip spouts removably secured within said apertures, a second housing section having an opening therein in one side thereof and being adapted for rotation with respect to said first part of said housing whereby the duct opening in said second housing section can be variously disposed at 90 angles relative to the opening in said first section of said housing, a removable door section within said last-mentioned housing section which provides access to said evaporating filter pad, means for joining said first and second housing sections to form a substantially unitary structure and means to supply water to said water distribution means.

3. A humidifier apparatus adapted for use in a furnace system which includes means to circulate heated air, said humidifier apparatus comprising a housing formed of two detachable sections, an evaporating filter pad disposed within one of said sections substantially completely closing an opening therein, said evaporating filter pad being composed of two layers of porous material, one of said layers being asbestosand the other layer being polyurethane foam, spring means for maintaining said filter pad in position within said housing section, water distribution means maintained in position above said evaporating filter pad for delivery of water thereto, said water distribution means comprising an elongated tray having apertures in the bottom wall thereof, drip spouts removably ecured within said apertures, a second housing section having an opening therein in one side thereof and being adapted for rotation with respect to said first part of said housing whereby the duct opening in said second housing section can be variously disposed at angles relative to the opening in said first section of said housing, a removable door section within said last-mentioned housing section which provides access to said evaporating filter pad, means for joining said first and second housing sections to form a substantially unitary structure and means to supply water to said water distribution means.

4. In combination with a Warm air heating system having a warm air compartment and a cold air compartment, a humidifier apparatus mounted within one of said furnace compartments, said humidifier apparatus comprising a housing formed of two detachable sections, an evaporating filter pad disposed within one of said sections substantially completely closing an opening therein, water distribution means maintained in position above said evaporating filter pad for delivery of water thereto, a second housing section having an opening therein in one side thereof and being adapted for rotation with respect to said first part of said housing whereby the duct opening in said second housing section can be variously disposed at 90 angles relative to the opening in said first section of said housing, a removable door section within said lastmentioned housing section which provides access to said evaporating filter pad, means for joining said first and second housing sections to form a substantially unitary structure and means to supply water to said water distribution means.

5. In combination with a warm air heating system having a warm air compartment and a cold air compartment, a humidifier apparatus mounted within one of said furnace compartments, said humidifier apparatus comprising a housing formed of two detachable sections, an evaporating filter pad disposed within one of said sections substantially completely closing an opening therein, spring means for maintaining said filter pad in position within said housing section, water distribution means maintained in position above said evaporating filter pad for delivery of water-thereto, said water distribution means comprising an elongated tray having apertures in the bottom wall thereof, drip spouts removably secured within said apertures, a second housing section having an opening therein in one side thereof and being adapted for rotation with respect to said first part of said housing whereby the duct opening in said second housing section can be variously disposed at 90 angles relative to the opening in said first section of said housing, a removable door section within said last-mentioned housing section which provides access to said evaporating filter pad, means for joining said first and second housing sections to form a substantially unitary structure and means to supply water to said water distribution means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,172,399 9/1939 Mueller 126l13 X 3,105,860 10/1963 Dunn 126-113 X 3,171,401 3/1965 McDulfee 1261l3 3,211,437 10/1965 Jaye 126-113 X JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner. 

